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BATTLEFIELD OF THE FUTURE

Battlefield of the Future - Air University Press

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<strong>BATTLEFIELD</strong> <strong>OF</strong> <strong>THE</strong> <strong>FUTURE</strong><br />

enemy BW capability prior to an adversary filling<br />

or launching the attack.<br />

the weapon<br />

Biological Defense<br />

The last element of the BW counterproliferation strategy is<br />

medical and nonmedical passive defensive measures . The<br />

importance and problems of BW detectors have already been<br />

identified . A priority effort exists to develop and field a BW<br />

detector which can provide stand-off warning and real-time<br />

detection of attack.<br />

Another nonmedical defensive measure that deserves<br />

emphasis is the employment of collective protective systems .<br />

Hardened shelters and work areas for rear-echelon troops as<br />

well as filtered over-pressurized systems for combat vehicles,<br />

ships, and planes could minimize the effects of both chemical<br />

and biological weapons .<br />

Medical measures to protect against biological threats<br />

include short-term and long-term methods of protecting US<br />

military forces . Even when detectors become available, medical<br />

measures will play an important role in both protection and<br />

treatment against BW attack .<br />

Efforts should be focused first on developing, testing, and<br />

producing Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines<br />

to immunize soldiers against the most likely BW threat agents .<br />

The availability of suitable vaccines and other medical<br />

products must remain a priority.<br />

On 26 November 1993, Undersecretary of Defense William<br />

Perry signed the DOD immunization policy for BW threats . It<br />

establishes the requirement for both peacetime and<br />

contingency use of vaccines against validated BW threats .<br />

Each theater commander-in-chief (CINC) is required to determine<br />

the regional threat and provide the chairman of the Joint<br />

Chiefs with requirements . Integral in meeting the regional<br />

CINC's requirements is the development of a DOD-dedicated<br />

vaccine production infrastructure .<br />

The liability concerns of the US pharmaceutical industry<br />

have affected development and production of public health<br />

vaccines . The controversy associated with the liability risk of<br />

immunizing children against Pertussis is illustrative . Congress<br />

246

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